Device affording total biological protection for irradiation of a fluid circulating within a tube

ABSTRACT

A device affording total biological protection for the irradiation of a fluid circulating within a tube, said device being characterized in that it comprises a lead body having two communicating cavities and two lead elements, one element being adapted to carry a radioactive source at one end thereof and being accurately and removably fitted within one of said cavities in order to permit of sliding displacement therein, the second element being accurately fitted within the other cavity in order to permit of pivotal displacement therein and provided with a peripheral recess for accommodating a ring on which is wound a portion of the fluid circulation tube and with curved grooves having a caliber which corresponds to that of said fluid circulation tube and terminating in said peripheral recess.

mte Staes I 1 Best et al. 5] Feb. 22, I972 [54] DEVICE AEEORDING TOTAL [56] References Cited BIOLOGICAL PROTECTION EOR UNITED STATES PATENTS IRRADHATION OF A FLUID 2 866 905 12/1958 Y 250/106 eomans CKRCULATING WITHIN A TUBE 3,153,725 10/1964 Attix ..250/106 inventors: Jos Best, 2 Rue Marcel Porte, 38-Grenoble; Daniel Hollard, 37 Route de Chartreux, 38-La Tronche; Michel Peccoud, Rue des Martyrs, 38-Claix; Michel Suscillon, 35 Avenue Jean .laurs, 38-Grenoble, all of France Filed: Mar. 25, 1969 Appl. No.: 810,157

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 5, 1968 France ..147251 US. Cl ..250/108 R, 250/106 S Int. Cl. ..G2lf 3/00 lFieldof Search...'...... ..250/106 S, 108

Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant ExaminerDavis L. Willis Attorney-Cameron, Kerkam & Sutton [57] ABSTRACT A device affording total biological protection for the irradiation of a fluid circulating within a tube, said device being characterized in that it comprises a lead body having two communicating cavities and two lead elements, one element being adapted to carry a radioactive source at one end thereof and being accurately and removably fitted within one of said cavities in order to permit of sliding displacement therein, the second element being accurately fitted within the other cavity in order to permit of pivotal displacement therein and provided with a peripheral recess for accommodating a ring on which is wound a portion of the fluid circulation tube and with curved grooves having a caliber which corresponds to that of said fluid circulation tube and terminating in said peripheral recess.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures mm z I972 3. 644.738

INVENTORS JOSE BOST DANIEL HOLLARD MICHEL PECCOUD MICHEL SUSCILLON DEVICE AFFORDING TOTAL BIOLOGICAL PROTECTION FOR IRRADIATION OF A FLUID CIRCULATING WITHIN A TUBE cavities and two lead elements. One element is adapted to carry a radioactive source at one end thereof andis accurately and removably fitted within one of said cavities in order to permit of sliding displacement therein. The second element is accurately fitted within the other cavity in order to permit of pivotal displacement therein and is provided with a peripheral recess for accommodating a ring on which is wound a portion of the fluid circulation tube. Curved grooves having a caliber which corresponds to that of said fluid circulation tube are also formed in said second element and terminate in said peripheral recess. The assembly is so designed that, in the inoperative position, said peripheral recess is directed towards the exterior of the lead body and is ready to receive said ring. In the operative position, the lead element in which said recess is formed has been displaced in a pivotal movement of predetermined amplitude so that said peripheral recess is located opposite to the cavity which contains the radioactive source. Said source is located at the center of said ring as a result of a small translational displacement imparted to the lead element on which said source is mounted.

Further properties and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description of one exemplifled embodiment of the device according to the invention which is given solely by way ofindication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the device according to the invention as shown in the inoperative position; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same device in the operative position.

In these figures, the device in accordance with the invention is shown as comprising a lead body 1 which may be of spherical shape, for example, and which has two communicating cavities 2 and 3 in which the lead elements 4 and 5 respectively are housed.

The cavity 2 is of cylindrical shape with a necked portion 6 and the cavity 3 is also of cylindrical shape. The lead element 4 is adapted to fit accurately within the cavity 2 and is capable of sliding therein by virtue of a translational-motion system 7, a radioactive source 8 being mounted at the inner extremity of said lead element. ln addition, said element 4 can readily be demounted for the purpose .of replacing the radioactive source.

The lead element 5 constitutes a drum which is adapted to fit accurately within the cylindrical cavity 3 and capable of rotating within this latter about a shaft 9. Said element 5 is provided with a peripheral recess 10 and curved grooves 11 which terminate in said recess.

The device according to the invention is intended to be employed for the following purpose:

It is required to irradiate a fluid such as blood which is circulated within a tube 12 (formed of plastic material, for example) by inserting a portion of said tube within the device according to the invention in proximity to the radioactive source (for example a source of caesium-137) while ensuring the maximum degree of protection against radioactive radiation.

Prior to the use of the device according to the invention, the tube 12 is sterilized and the two ends of the tube are connected to an examination apparatus (not shown in the drawings).

The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows: the lead drum 5 being in the position shown in FIG. 1 (namely in which the recess 10 is located opposite to the aper ture 14), a portion of the tube 12 is wound onto a ring 13 which is fitted in position within the recess 10.

The drum 5 is rotated about its shaft 9 and, during this rotational motion, the two portions of the tube 12 which terminate on the ring 13 are set within the grooves 11 which have the same caliber as thetube 12 and are of curved shape, thereby affording the maximum degree of protection against radiation.

When the drum has been displaced in rotation through (as shown by the arrow F), the ring 13 and the portion of the tube 12 which is wound onto said ring are located opposite to the necked portion 6 ofthe cavity 2.

By means of the mechanical device 7, a "small tranlational displacement is imparted to the lead element 4, thereby inserting the radioactive source 8 at the center of the ring 13. The drum 5 is then locked in the irradiation position (as shown in FIG. 2).

The operations involved in withdrawal of the tube 12 are the reverse of those described in the foregoing.

The device in accordance with the invention permits the insertion and withdrawal of the tube 12 through which the fluid to be irradiated is circulated without any interruption of protection against radiation.

This device can be manipulated in any desired location without entailing the need of any special equipment.

It is an advantage to provide a spherical shape in order to minimize the weight of the device inasmuch as lightness is an essential condition for easy transportation on hospital floors.

Generally speaking, biological protection around the radioactive source 8 is never interrupted during operationsv What we claim is:

1. A device affording total biological protection for the irradiation ofa fluid circulating within a tube, comprising a lead body, two communicating cavities in said body, two lead elements in said cavities, the first of said elements carrying a radioactive source at one end thereof and being accurately and removably fitted within the first of said cavities for sliding displacement therein, the second of said elements being accurately fitted within the other of said cavities for pivotal dis placement therein, a peripheral recess in said second element, a ring in said recess on which is wound a portion of the fluid circulation tube, curved grooves in said second element having a caliber which corresponds to that of the fluid circulation tube, said grooves terminating in said peripheral recess, whereby, in the operative position, said peripheral recess is directed towards the exterior of said lead body to receive said ring and, in the operative position, said second lead element being rotated in predetermined amplitude and said peripheral recess being located opposite to the first of said cavities containing the radioactive source and means for moving said source into the center of said ring by translational displace ment ofsaid first lead element. 

1. A device affording total biological protection for the irradiation of a fluid circulating within a tube, comprising a lead body, two communicating cavities in said body, two lead elements in said cavities, the first of said elements carrying a radioactive source at one end thereof and being accurately and removably fitted within the first of said cavities for sliding displacement therein, the second of said elements being accurately fitted within the other of said cavities for pivotal displacement therein, a peripheral recess in said second element, a ring in said recess on which is wound a portion of the fluid circulation tube, curved grooves in said second element having a caliber which corresponds to that of the fluid circulation tube, said grooves terminating in said peripheral recess, whereby, in the operative position, said peripheral recess is directed towards the exterior of said lead body to receive said ring and, in the operative position, said second lead element being rotated in predetermined amplitude and sAid peripheral recess being located opposite to the first of said cavities containing the radioactive source and means for moving said source into the center of said ring by translational displacement of said first lead element. 